Search engines are smart, but they still appreciate a good map. An XML sitemap is a file that lists the important URLs on your website, so search engines like Google and Bing can find and crawl them easily.
For a new site with only a few links pointing to it, a sitemap helps your fresh posts get discovered sooner.
What is an XML Sitemap?
Think of a sitemap as the table of contents of a book. A reader could flip through every page, but the contents page shows where everything is within seconds.
XML is simply a format that computers can read easily. A sitemap uses it to list each URL, and it can also include extra details, such as the date a page was last changed.
Does WordPress create a sitemap automatically?
Yes. Since WordPress 5.5, every site gets a built-in sitemap at /wp-sitemap.xml. It links to smaller sitemaps for your posts, pages, categories, tags, author archives and any public custom post types.
Most SEO plugins replace this default sitemap with their own, which gives you more control over what gets included. Our guide on how to add an XML sitemap in WordPress explains your options.
How to submit your sitemap to Google
- First, open your sitemap in a browser to make sure it loads without errors.
- Next, log in to Google Search Console and select your website.
- Now, click Sitemaps in the left menu.
- Here, enter the sitemap address, such as
wp-sitemap.xml, and click Submit.
You can do the same in Bing Webmaster Tools. Remember, a sitemap helps search engines find your pages, but it does not guarantee that they will index or rank them.
If you tick Discourage search engines from indexing this site under Settings → Reading, WordPress turns off its built-in sitemap. Untick it once your site is ready to go live.
An XML sitemap is a free and simple way to show search engines everything you have published. That's it. Do let us know in the comments if your sitemap shows any errors.